Russian police detain dozens of protesters

MOSCOW, May 31 (Reuters) - Russian police detained dozens ofprotesters in rallies held in Moscow and St Petersburg onThursday against President Vladimir Putin and to demand theright to free assembly.

More than 100 people attempted to gather in a central Moscowsquare where city authorities had denied them permission todemonstrate, chanting "Russia without Putin!" and "Let's stopdictatorship!"

Many were wearing the white ribbons that have become asymbol of protests against Putin, who returned to the Kremlinfor a third term earlier this month.

Police have largely left crowds alone during winter proteststhat drew tens of thousands of people, but have been tougherlately, beating protesters at a rally on the eve of Putin's May7 inauguration and breaking up attempted round-the-clockprotests.

On Thursday, police in black helmets and body armour lockedelbows and pushed against protesters, some of whom tried tobreak through the police line. Police pulled some protestersfrom the crowd and bundled them into vans as evening rush hourtraffic passed by.

Police said they had detained about 60 protesters in thecapital, state-run news agency Itar-Tass reported. In StPetersburg, they picked up at least eight of some 200 people ata peaceful protest.

"We don't need those who suppress freedom and truth ... I'msick and tired of living in this disgusting country," saidAngelina Tsaava, an elderly protester who held a poster callingthe authorities "democracy's executioners".

Members of Strategy 31, a group named after the article theRussian Constitution that guarantees the right to free assembly,have tried to stage protests on the last day of every month with31 days since 2009.

Opposition leaders say the government violates Russians'constitutional right to free assembly by requiring permissionfrom local authorities for street demonstrations. Police oftendisperse unsanctioned rallies and detain protesters.

The anti-Putin protests, sparked by allegations of fraud ina December parliamentary election won by his party, were thebiggest opposition demonstrations of his 12-year rule.

The protesters hope to keep the movement alive with a bigrally on June 12, but city authorities have denied their requestfor permission to march down Moscow's central street anddemonstrate on a square outside the Kremlin.

The ruling United Russia party, whose top post Putin cededto Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday, has proposed alaw designed to suppress protests by raising fines forviolations at rallies to up to 1.5 million roubles ($48,000)from 1,000 roubles ($33.5).($1 = 33.4767 Russian roubles)